News - Chinese Human Rights DefendersChinese Human Rights Defenders

United Nations Rights Chief Should Address Beijing’s Deepening Repression

February 24, 2026 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders—February 24, 2026) Twenty-six civil society organizations are calling on United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk to use his February 27 address to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) to detail his office’s efforts to investigate alleged Chinese government crimes against (read more…)

China’s Erasure of Ethnic Minority Languages

February 21, 2026 Comments Off

How is the Chinese government marking international mother language day on February 21? By legalizing the erasure of mother languages.

Alert: Chinese court imprisons two defenders for commemorating Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo

February 17, 2026 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders—February 17, 2026) On February 13, 2026, a Chinese court sentenced two human rights defenders to prison on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” Activist Zou Wei and writer Zan Aizong had participated in a seaside commemoration of Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo, who (read more…)

Hong Kong: Release Jimmy Lai and End Suppression of Freedom of Expression

February 9, 2026 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders—February 8, 2026) CHRD calls for the release of Jimmy Lai, the 78-year-old Hong Kong-British prodemocracy activist and owner of the shuttered newspaper Apple Daily, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison today.

China: Sichuan public security detain journalists Liu Hu and Wu Yingjiao

February 4, 2026 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders — February 4, 2026) On February 1, Chengdu Public Security Bureau officers detained renowned journalist Liu Hu while he was traveling to Beijing. On February 2, Liu’s family learned that Chengdu authorities had placed Liu under criminal detention on suspicion of “making false accusations” (read more…)

Alert: Chinese authorities denying activists access to adequate medical treatment

January 27, 2026 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders— January 27, 2026) Human rights activists wrongfully detained by Chinese authorities are being denied adequate medical care in prison and then blocked from receiving treatment after they are released.

Alert: China jails three for “picking quarrels” in ongoing assault on free expression

January 22, 2026 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders, January 22, 2026) In the past month, courts in China convicted a pro-democracy activist, a renowned writer, and a former police officer on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” imposing sentences between 2.5 and 3.5 years. CHRD finds no publicly available evidence that the (read more…)

Hong Kong: Drop Charges Against Tiananmen Vigil Organizers, End Sham Trial

January 21, 2026 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders—January 21, 2026) A democracy group and its leadership that organized Hong Kong’s now-banned vigil for victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre are set to face trial on January 22. The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China and its former (read more…)

Alert: Online Secondhand Bookstore in China Removes Titles about Ethnic Groups

January 16, 2026 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders—January 16, 2026) A popular online secondhand bookstore called Confucius Old Books has reportedly removed some old Chinese-language books about Tibet, Southern Mongolia and the Uyghur region according to the Rights Defense Network (RDN).

Alert: Chinese authorities seek to levy national security charges, escalating crackdown

January 9, 2026 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders, January 9, 2026) On January 6, Sichuan police detained at least ten people associated with the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu from their homes or the church premises in a coordinated raid. Six remain in custody and have been criminally detained, according to a (read more…)

Alert: Chinese authorities target writer, artist for critical cultural expression

December 17, 2025 Comments Off

(Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders—December 17, 2025) Chinese authorities are arbitrarily detaining an artist and a writer in retaliation for artwork and books critical of the government. The laws invoked in both cases violate the Chinese government’s obligations under international human rights law.

Joint NGO letter to UK government following conviction of Jimmy Lai

December 16, 2025 Comments Off

Today, British citizen Jimmy Lai has been found guilty in his trial in Hong Kong, on two national security law charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious material. He faces a sentence of up to life imprisonment. He has been imprisoned (read more…)